Study: Americans Don't Know The Facts On U.S. Issues

[iamthebandfanman]

"Americans don’t have their facts straight. At least that’s the conclusion of a new study from the research group Ipsos-MORI.

When it comes to the nation’s biggest issues, many Americans do not know the basics. They massively overestimate unemployment rates and the number of immigrants. They assume that the nation’s murder rate is rising, when in fact it’s falling.

It may not be the duty of Americans to know the numbers, but the result of what some call “political ignorance” could be huge when it comes to electing leaders.

Pollster Julia Clark of the non-partisan research group Ipsos-MORI spoke with Here & Now’s Robin Young about the study and what it means."

http://hereandnow.wbur.org/2014/11/11/political-ignorance-study

https://www.ipsos-mori.com/researchpublications/researcharchive/3466/Perceptions-are-not-reality-Things-the-world-gets-wrong.aspx

[BillZBubb]

1. The Faux effect...

[iamthebandfanman]

2. that and

personal ego

some people just can not stand to be wrong.. about anything.. and will go with their 'gut feeling' over numbers any day..

[iamthebandfanman]

3. bumpity bump. nt

[sakabatou]

4. *facepalm*

[ctaylors6]

5. Not the best test

The turnout question did not refer to the most recent election but an older one (and didn't give a date). And some of the options were too close to each other to be great indicators of how well someone knows the issues in their country. Life expectancy gave a 2 year difference for the 2 of the options. I don't think being off by 2 years on life expectancy is significant.
Those were the 2 that I missed